Mark Shield has made it a one-two for Australian match official's in 2007, after taking out the AFC Referee of the Year award at a glittering ceremony at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney overnight.

Australia has now produced the leading male and female referees for 2007, after Tammy Ogston, won the female equivalent last month. Tammy made history after refereeing the final of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, between Germany and Brazil in September.

Australian referee Mark Shield will be aiming for yet another career highlight on Wednesday night at the Asian Football Confederation Annual Awards Night that will be held at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.

Sydney FC fans who pelted match officials and police with rubbish were last night threatened with life bans as Football Australia vowed to tackle hooliganism head-on.

The noose of suspicion is tightening around an unruly section of supporters who struck referee Mark Shield and several escorting officers with plastic bottles and cups as they retreated up the SFS tunnel, following Sydney's spiteful loss to Melbourne Victory last Saturday night.

Melbourne Victory flew into Adelaide re-assured by the signature of coach Ernie Merrick but facing staunch opposition to the selection of captain Kevin Muscat for tomorrow night's A-League grand final rematch.

Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar flagged his concern at Muscat's request for approval to play against Adelaide with a guard to protect his fractured wrist.

The corporate commitment to football in Australia reached a new high today when Football Federation Australia announced its biggest ever sponsorship agreement with Nike.

The two companies revealed that they had renewed their successful partnership and had entered into a nine-year agreement that will see Nike continue to be the official Performance Partner of the FFA and its national teams.